Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions of people attain financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, and premium investing services.

Getting a paycheck advance is often one of the worst things you can do. Learn why you should avoid that, and what you might do instead.

The idea of a paycheck advance seems appealing: You're due to get paid soon by your employer, but you have a pressing expense, and you want -- or need -- the money now. Should you opt for a paycheck advance? Let's review the pros and cons.

The upsides of a paycheck advancePaycheck advances are typically for relatively small sums, such as $1,000 or less, and it's generally expected that they will be paid back within days or weeks, via your next paycheck. The best argument for getting one (they're also referred to as payday loans) is this: you get your money immediately and solve your financial problem.

Other upsides: It's convenient, it's available to you even if you have a poor credit rating, and you're not likely to be turned down.

The downsides of a paycheck advanceThe disadvantages of getting a paycheck advance or payday loan far outnumber the advantages. That's why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is looking into establishing regulations for the industry, to make them better serve consumers. Here are the main drawbacks to them:

The cost: Getting immediate, convenient money isn't free. The CFBP notes that the finance charge for these loans is often between $10 and $30 for every $100 borrowed. Do you see anything alarming there? Even just $10 on a $100 loan means you're forking over 10% of the loan. Borrow $400 with a fee of $20 per $100 and you're looking at paying $80 just to borrow $400 -- for a very short time.

Stratospheric interest rates: Now let's get to interest rates, which are usually the most critical part of any loan. Right now, we're in a period of historically low rates and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages can be found with interest rates of about 4%. The average rate on a credit card is between 13% and 16%, with maximums near 30%. What kind of rate can you expect from a paycheck advance? Well, the CFPB has pointed out that, "A typical two-week payday loan with a $15 per $100 fee equates to an annual percentage rate (APR) of almost 400%." Imagine that -- if your loan was left in force for a whole year, you'd end up paying four times its value just in interest! There's a word for this: usury -- the practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. Remember that 400% is a typical rate, and some lenders charge 500% or more. (Another term frequently associated with these loans: "predatory lending.")

Extreme collection methods: OK, let's say that you're cool with the fees and the interest rates. What if you can't pay off your loan on time? Well, if you take the time to read the fine print in the contract you agree to, it (unsurprisingly) favors the lender, not you. Every paycheck advance company has its own policies and methods, with some more savory than others. In their attempts to get their loan repaid, it's not unheard of for these lenders to make calls to your workplace, to call your family members, and even to make threats. The line between legal and illegal collections methods is not always recognized.

Nasty consequences: Another result of not being able to repay your loan on time is that your loan can get "flipped," becoming a new loan, with new terms and new fees. With payday loans, the amount you owe tends to rise quickly. This is a big deal because anyone who is desperate enough to need a paycheck advance is likely not on the soundest financial footing, and suddenly owing much more than you expected to is supremely counterproductive. A 2013 CFPB report noted that the median number of days borrowers were indebted annually was 199 -- more than half the year! Another nasty consequence is that borrowers will sometimes give lenders access to their bank accounts, only to then have the lender making withdrawals for interest while not reducing the loan balance. Or making withdrawals that result in new fees charged by the bank. If this happens to you, you can contact the bank and revoke withdrawal authorization for the lender.

Hacking: As if the issues above aren't enough, those who seek paycheck advances online have increasingly been targeted by hackers. With many states cracking down on brick-and-mortar payday lenders, many borrowers are looking to online sources of loans. That requires entering a lot of personal information into these lenders' databases, though, such as names, addresses, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account numbers, and more. This kind of data is a goldmine for identity thieves.

Alternatives to paycheck advancesFortunately, most people in financial dire straits do have some other options besides payday loans:

You may not want to borrow from a friend or relative, but that's likely to cost you a lot less.

You can also contact those to whom you owe money (such as a credit card company, your landlord, utility companies, etc.) and discuss the situation. They may agree to give you more time to pay, or may set up an alternative payment schedule.

A community-development credit union might be able to offer you a small loan, and social service agencies may be able to ease your burden via assistance with food, heating, and housing expenses.

Credit card debt can also be a treacherous minefield, but it can be a preferable one. It should only be among your last resorts, but consider charging more onto your cards or taking out a cash advance on one. Those interest rates can be steep and dangerous, too, but much less so than with most payday loans.

Before you go to a payday lender for a paycheck advance, ask your employer for one. You may get some help there.

There are a few situations in which a paycheck advance can make sense, such as if you're dealing with a lender who has very reasonable terms and you're very certain that you will be able to pay back the money on time. Otherwise, look elsewhere for financial relief, lest you make a bad situation worse.

Author

Selena Maranjian has been writing for the Fool since 1996 and covers basic investing and personal finance topics. She also prepares the Fool's syndicated newspaper column and has written or co-written a number of Fool books. For more financial and non-financial fare (as well as silly things), follow her on Twitter... Follow @SelenaMaranjian